Posted By Charley Farley-Trelawney
Grainne
Surely the best tool in the world has to be your own assessment of the situation, as to whether the ladders are acceptable, is it short term? Long term? (the latter provides an answer there, duration of work, 1 minute, a couple of days, (there is another answer) the height involved, the inclement conditions, general site or area conditions, and you could go on, my point being that there is no system that replaces the hands on eyes at it, and your past experience with consideration of the WAH regulations, (check out the 2005 regs).
Whilst not wishing to poo poo your request for a system, try the general risk hierarchy, try and eliminate the use of ladders, if not then look to replace them with another suitable means of access, towers, ladder cages, MEWPS, (bearing in mind training and certification with the latter) if however its a simple 5 minute job and you are satisfied with the general method that has been decided then let the works proceed, take it all into consideration, the height, 3 metres, 15 metres, now there is another answer with the latter, consider if a PTW is applicable for the work.
I use a very simple tool, its regulations, my own experience and finally if all regulations acop’s and general guidance looks like a minimum standard then I will exceed what is required, however, I still find the best way of deciding is the ol 'gut' feeling, if in doubt ,find another way of doing it.
So there we are, you actually had the tool all this time! Good luck.
Charles